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- Title
Engaging in advocacy during medical training: assessing the impact of a virtual COVID-19-focused state advocacy day.
- Authors
Yu, Zizi; Moustafa, Danna; Kwak, Ruby; O'Connor, Daniel M.; Cavanaugh-Hussey, Margaret W.; Huang, Jennifer T.; LaChance, Avery H.
- Abstract
<bold>Purpose: </bold>The physician voice is crucial to shaping health policy and public health guidelines, particularly during COVID-19. However, there are gaps in health policy and advocacy education within graduate medical education. This study sought to characterise the impact of a virtual COVID-19 focused advocacy day among medical trainees in Massachusetts.<bold>Study Design: </bold>The half-day event featured speakers drawn from government relations experts, physician advocates, and state and federal legislators as well as breakout discussions among attendees. A 25-question Redcap survey and list of resources/opportunities for continued advocacy was administered to all participants at event's conclusion on 19 May 2020.<bold>Results: </bold>There were 60 responses from 141 participants (43% response rate). One-third reported no prior formal health policy instruction, and over half reported getting information from news publications, social media and peers. 58% believed physician involvement in advocacy to be 'extremely important' prior to COVID-19; 83% believed the same after onset of COVID-19 (p<0.0001). The most common barriers to advocacy engagement were lack of time and knowledge. Most attendees felt participation increased their knowledge and likelihood to engage in the COVID-19 response, imparted useful skills/knowledge for continued advocacy, increased their interest in future similar events, and that such events should be available to all trainees.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Trainees recognise the importance of health policy and advocacy and value opportunities to gain the necessary skills/knowledge to effect tangible change. Virtual advocacy days can be replicated nationwide to help trainees learn about advocacy efforts and find their legislative voices during COVID-19 and beyond.
- Subjects
MASSACHUSETTS; EDUCATION advocacy; HEALTH policy; GRADUATE medical education
- Publication
Postgraduate Medical Journal, 2022, Vol 98, Issue 1159, p365
- ISSN
0032-5473
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-139362